OSCE releases 2006 Annual Report with "good stories to tell"

VIENNA, 23 April 2007 - The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), the world's largest regional security organization, released its 2006 Annual Report today.

The 112-page publication details the activities of the Organization and its co-operation with other international organizations.

"The OSCE has a good story to tell," OSCE Secretary General Marc Perrin de Brichambaut writes in his foreword. "Our task is to create positive momentum, to launch virtuous circles through many steps that coalesce to produce changes in attitudes, cultures and institutions."

In 2006, the OSCE played a vital role in ensuring the peaceful birth of the republic of Montenegro, the Organization's 56th participating State. The Organization also took action for building co-operation on combating organized crime, illicit drugs, and trafficking of human beings.

Focusing on the OSCE's activities in 2006, Ambassador de Brichambaut added that the strengthening of the Organization's effectiveness continued to be one of its main challenges.

"The OSCE is a community of values. Evolving challenges require a constant reminder of core principles, a review of the implementation of commitments and open dialogue. We need to contribute to the exchange of ideas on these crucial issues in order to strengthen security and co-operation in the OSCE area," he said.

The Annual Report can be viewed at OSCE Annual Report 2006

The OSCE also published today "The OSCE at Work," a CD-ROM that provides a basic overview of the Organization in the OSCE's six official languages. It can be viewed at /atwork